The 1980 Green Bay Packers season was their 62nd season overall and their 60th in the National Football League (NFL). The team posted a 5–10–1 record under coach Bart Starr, earning them a fifth-place finish in the NFC Central division.
Before the 1980 season even began, first-round draft pick Bruce Clark bolted directly for the Canadian Football League, never playing a down for the Packers. He forced a trade to the New Orleans Saints upon returning to the United States. Green Bay regrouped and started strong by outlasting the Chicago Bears in an overtime thriller in the season opener. But with 27 players on injured reserved during the course of the year, the team was unable to replenish its roster and Green Bay suffered their 7th losing season in 8 years.
Exactly three months after the opener at Lambeau Field, The Packers would rematch with the Bears. However, Chicago exacted revenge by embarrassing the Packers 61–7 at Soldier Field, causing the Packers to be eliminated from the playoffs for the 8th straight season.
Offseason
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 1980 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeBruce BarkwillRunning backLawrenceTom BellGuardBYUJerry BeyRunning backWestern IllinoisPat BoweTight endStanfordKurt ChristensenKickerConcordiaPaul ColumbiaTight EndVillanovaRobert de la PuentePunterCal State NorthridgeLonnie GreeneDefensive lineMississippi StateMike KennedyQuarterbackOregonMark MurphySafetyWest Liberty StateJoe OdomGuard/CenterWichita StateCarlton PrideRunning backMemphis StateDave SchwabDefensive lineSouth DakotaSteve TurkQuarterbackEastern IllinoisJoe VerriaDefensive tackleBridgewater StateTom VirglLinebackerKearney StateMark WilliquetteDefensive backWisconsin–La CrossePaul WintersRunning backAkron
Personnel
Staff
Roster
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 7 Chicago Bears W 12–6 1–0 Lambeau Field Recap 2September 14 Detroit Lions L 7–29 1–1 Milwaukee County Stadium Recap 3September 21 at Los Angeles Rams L 21–51 1–2 Anaheim Stadium Recap 4September 28 Dallas Cowboys L 7–28 1–3 Milwaukee County Stadium Recap 5October 5 Cincinnati Bengals W 14–9 2–3 Lambeau Field Recap 6October 12 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers T 14–14 2–3–1 Tampa Stadium Recap 7October 19 at Cleveland Browns L 21–26 2–4–1 Cleveland Stadium Recap 8October 26 Minnesota Vikings W 16–3 3–4–1 Lambeau Field Recap 9November 2 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 20–22 3–5–1 Three Rivers Stadium Recap10November 9 San Francisco 49ers W 23–16 4–5–1 Milwaukee County Stadium Recap11November 16 at New York Giants L 21–27 4–6–1 Giants Stadium Recap 12November 23 at Minnesota Vikings W 25–13 5–6–1 Metropolitan Stadium Recap 13November 30 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 17–20 5–7–1 Milwaukee County Stadium Recap 14December 7 at Chicago Bears L 7–61 5–8–1 Soldier Field Recap 15December 14 Houston Oilers L 3–22 5–9–1 Lambeau Field Recap 16December 21 at Detroit Lions L 3–24 5–10–1 Pontiac Silverdome Recap
Standings
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Chicago Bears
Week 2: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 3 vs. Los Angeles Rams date=September 21, 1980 TV: CBS TV Announcers: Gary Bender and John Madden
Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 11 vs. New York Giants
Awards and records
Hall of Famers In 1980 Packer great Herb Adderley was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
References